The next day, Saki woke up early in the morning to practice her swinging until breakfast. While at the table, her father spoke to ask her. "So, Saki... What are your plans for today?" Saki thinks for a while, just humming as she does. "I will just keep practicing, I think... I've worked myself a lot so I don't feel like going out yet" She replied, and her father nodded. "I've heard your dummy broke yesterday. You've improved so much that you've finally defeated it" He let out a bit of a chuckle.
"Well, I did improve" Saki felt a rising heat on her cheeks. "What else you need to improve is your endurance" Her father said. Saki looked at him curiously. "My endurance?" She asked, and her father nodded. "Endurance in taking in compliments. You blush so easily, Saki" He chuckled. Saki grunted loudly with a slight pout. "I said I would get used to it soon" She replied.
Later on after their breakfast, Saki heads out to their yard to start practicing. Shortly after, Abigail arrived with her dummy, now fixed and in pristine condition. Saki turned to look at the dummy. "W-wow... it looks new" She described. "A fine morning, Saki" Abigail greeted as she walked and put down the dummy to its usual spot. "A-ah, yeah, good morning" Saki timidly greeted, making Abigail chuckle. "You're still not used to my usual greetings" She remarked.
Saki looked away awkwardly, scratching her cheek lightly with a finger. "So how did you fix it so quickly? Or is it a new one?" She asked as Abigail was setting up the dummy. "I guess you can say it's the same dummy. I just replaced the wood for the head. And as for fixing it quickly, maybe I just have a knack for putting wooden things together" Abigail said as she took out a pouch and put it on the dummy. "Now it looks closer to a human" She said with a proud smile. Saki scoffs. "Okay, Miss Beaver" She replied. "Excuse me?" Abigail looked at her with a smile.
With the dummy set up, Saki prepares her wooden sword against it once more. "Try not to break it again, will you?" Abigail said from the side, causing Saki to turn to her momentarily. "I thought you would like to fix it again if I did, Miss Beaver" She replied. "Excuse me? Don't call me that" Abigail responded with a smile with a slight mocking pleading in her voice. After that, Saki began to train on the dummy. She practiced her swinging, her angle, and the amount of force she exerted with her arms. As she progressed, the familiar feeling of battles came to her, and she slowly began to take her training seriously.
After minutes of training, Saki finally had her first sweat in her training and took a break. As she steps away from the dummy, she realizes that Abigail was watching the entire time. She looks at her with widened eyes. "Oh... were you watching the entire time?" She asked, and Abigail shrugged with a smile. "Yes, did that just dawn upon you?" Her reply made Saki frown, making Abigail chuckle. "What? Did I annoy you that quick?" She asked. Saki looks away from her to the dummy. "No, just... be quiet" She said, and Abigail just shrugged.
As they stood in there, they heard approaching footsteps which they turned around to. Stopping by the fence was Clarice. She has her usual neutral expression as she gazes at both of them. "A wonderful day to you, my ladies" She put a hand on her chest and bowed her head, her body slightly bending down. "A fine morning indeed, Clarice" Abigail greeted back and Clarice raised herself to look at Saki. "Miss Nisshin..." She called out, snapping Saki to a formal posture. "Ah, yes... Nice morning, uh, good morning..." She timidly whispers out. "The chief has asked for your presence. Please come visit our home when you are available" Clarice spoke with a gentle and friendly tone.
"Oh... We can go now..." Saki took away her wooden sword to her virtual inventory. Clarice bows. "Should I wait for you?" She asked, and Saki replied. "Yes, um, I won't take long" She then went inside her house with Abigail to tell her parents about her departure. Once outside, they joined Clarice back towards the chief's house.
On the way there, Clarice strikes up a conversation. "Three villages were suddenly attacked by the insects when I was gone. I returned when Shigure was transporting the carcasses to Kire" She said, getting their attention. "Yes, the first attack happened in Kanna. When you left to explore the western forest, a man came rushing in to seek help, but then the pests also appeared here" Abigail replied. Clarice nods. "So I've heard. Miss Nisshin and you helped defend the village before she and Mister Tagawa were sent to Kanna by the chief, while you stayed behind" She said, recalling the events of the attack.
"Were you talking about the man named Rito?" Saki frowned slightly upon asking. "Yes. Mister Rito Tagawa. The chief has him as some sort of bodyguard, or so he believes. His father is the chief's messenger, and since he's capable with a sword, he was told by his father to stand beside the chief" Clarice replied. Saki let out a loud scoff. "As if the chief needs his sword. I've seen her put the entire village into darkness" She said. Upon hearing her words, Abigail stiffened up, remembering Shizuku's spell, but kept it hidden and maintained her smile at them.
For the first time, Saki saw Clarice be amused. Clarice puts a finger below her lips as she giggles. "I'm afraid I have to agree, Miss Nisshin" She said to her. "The chief sometimes sends him away to simple tasks such as patrolling around the village just so she could do her work alone. Also, the chief has me, I'm more capable than him in terms of sword fighting" She added. Saki looked at her with astonishment. She never saw Clarice fight yet, but she would believe her if she stated that she was stronger than Rito. "You're her daughter after all... I've seen her fight, and I can guess you are somewhat near that strength" Saki replied.
Abigail then spoke up. "It wouldn't hurt to see you demonstrate your strengths against Saki in a friendly duel" She suggested with a bright, enthusiastic smile. They both looked at her, pondering the thought. "I'm afraid I won't have the time in my schedule for that, my lady. If I have the slightest chance, however, I will make sure to inform you" Clarice replied with an apologetic tone. "Yes, please!" Abigail replied with excitement. Saki just sighed as they now proceeded in silence as they near the chief's house.
Once inside the chief's house, they were seated on the sofa just like before, and a few moments later, Shizuku came to finally meet them. Coming to sit on the sofa facing them, she greeted the two. "A beautiful morning to you, ladies" She then looks at Saki. "Miss Nisshin..." She nods, then sits down facing them. "How are you feeling? The entire village was holding their breath for the moment of your return" She asked, causing Saki to be flustered. "Um, I'm feeling great now, thank you..." She replied shyly.
Shizuku's smile slightly falters. "We've lost a great amount of our guards in the invasion. I believe it was my carelessness that got us into this state" She said with a sigh. "I don't see any reason for you to be blaming yourself, chief... We never expected such a dangerous invasion, no one would. This has never happened before" Abigail reassured her. Shizuku gave her an acknowledging smile. "You might be right. I never expected such a great number and the severity of their threat. Though I should have known better at least when that giant appeared" She said.
"You did what you can... Even if you had to put the village into some sort of terror-driving spell" Abigail smiled firmly at her. Shizuku sees her smile and immediately finds out that there's something bigger behind her smile. She stutters as she speaks. "I-I must apologize... It wasn't a pleasant experience, but it was all I could pull off to finish the battle against the odds, given their overwhelming numbers" She averted her gaze as Abigail maintained hers.
Clarice appeared with a tray of cups. She silently placed one cup close to Shizuku, then the remaining two cups to the other side, and then disappeared once again inside. Shizuku took this opportunity to distract Abigail. "Pl-please, have a drink! It's a tea brewed by the leaves grown from Cassery's rich tea groves!" She took a sip of her tea, and the two followed after.
After taking a few sips from her tea, Shizuku placed her cup down on the table and looked at Saki. "Miss Nisshin... Upon closer look, you haven't been progressing up past your rank. It's waiting for an official designation" She teased. "Well, it should wait forever then, because that ain't gonna happen" Saki replied grumpily, causing the two to be amused. "How are you with your sword? Have you been improving?" Shizuku asked. Saki shrugs lightly. "I guess..." She replied briefly, and Shizuku nodded.
"Your skills? So far, I only see two. It's very important for adventurers to have diverse skills and spells for different situations, you know?" She asked. "I, uh, will keep that in mind" Saki replied in a low tone.